Bottom Line:
The optical attenuation coefficient in necrotic cells decreased from 2.2 +/- 0.3 mm(1) to 1.3 +/- 0.6 mm(-1), whereas, in the apoptotic cells, an increase to 6.4 +/- 1.7 mm(-1) was observed.The results from cultured cells, as presented in this study, indicate the ability of OCT to detect and differentiate between viable, apoptotic, and necrotic cells, based on their attenuation coefficient.This functional supplement to high-resolution OCT imaging can be of great clinical benefit, enabling on-line monitoring of tissues, e.g. for feedback in cancer treatment.

Affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

ABSTRACTOptical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to determine optical properties of pelleted human fibroblasts in which necrosis or apoptosis had been induced. We analysed the OCT data, including both the scattering properties of the medium and the axial point spread function of the OCT system. The optical attenuation coefficient in necrotic cells decreased from 2.2 +/- 0.3 mm(1) to 1.3 +/- 0.6 mm(-1), whereas, in the apoptotic cells, an increase to 6.4 +/- 1.7 mm(-1) was observed. The results from cultured cells, as presented in this study, indicate the ability of OCT to detect and differentiate between viable, apoptotic, and necrotic cells, based on their attenuation coefficient. This functional supplement to high-resolution OCT imaging can be of great clinical benefit, enabling on-line monitoring of tissues, e.g. for feedback in cancer treatment.

Fig7: Colchicine-treated cells (black dotted line) mimic the µt curve of the AraC-treated cells (grey line). However, the maximum values of µt are higher, and secondary necrosis is not significantly detected. Untreated control cells are represented by the black line

Mentions:
To study the effect of nuclear condensation on the attenuation, we treated cells with colchicine (Fig. 7). The resulting increase in µt mimicked the apoptosis curves.Fig. 7

Fig7: Colchicine-treated cells (black dotted line) mimic the µt curve of the AraC-treated cells (grey line). However, the maximum values of µt are higher, and secondary necrosis is not significantly detected. Untreated control cells are represented by the black line

Mentions:
To study the effect of nuclear condensation on the attenuation, we treated cells with colchicine (Fig. 7). The resulting increase in µt mimicked the apoptosis curves.Fig. 7

Bottom Line:
The optical attenuation coefficient in necrotic cells decreased from 2.2 +/- 0.3 mm(1) to 1.3 +/- 0.6 mm(-1), whereas, in the apoptotic cells, an increase to 6.4 +/- 1.7 mm(-1) was observed.The results from cultured cells, as presented in this study, indicate the ability of OCT to detect and differentiate between viable, apoptotic, and necrotic cells, based on their attenuation coefficient.This functional supplement to high-resolution OCT imaging can be of great clinical benefit, enabling on-line monitoring of tissues, e.g. for feedback in cancer treatment.

Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

ABSTRACTOptical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to determine optical properties of pelleted human fibroblasts in which necrosis or apoptosis had been induced. We analysed the OCT data, including both the scattering properties of the medium and the axial point spread function of the OCT system. The optical attenuation coefficient in necrotic cells decreased from 2.2 +/- 0.3 mm(1) to 1.3 +/- 0.6 mm(-1), whereas, in the apoptotic cells, an increase to 6.4 +/- 1.7 mm(-1) was observed. The results from cultured cells, as presented in this study, indicate the ability of OCT to detect and differentiate between viable, apoptotic, and necrotic cells, based on their attenuation coefficient. This functional supplement to high-resolution OCT imaging can be of great clinical benefit, enabling on-line monitoring of tissues, e.g. for feedback in cancer treatment.